Edward (Ed) Duda, former CEO of DUDA, a 98-year-old family-owned-and-operated diversified company headquartered in Oviedo, FL, died Sunday, Aug. 11. He was 91.

Mr. Duda was a third-generation descendant of company founder Andrew Duda and the first of his generation to serve as president of the company. He began his career with DUDA in 1957 as a farm supervisor at its Belle Glade agriculture operation. He held a variety of significant roles within the company before being elected president in 1977. He was later named president and chairman of the board, followed by president and CEO.

In 1992

The trade associations that support Florida’s tomato growers, packers and shippers have hired Robert Guenther to be their next leader. These associations include the Florida Tomato Exchange, the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange and the Florida Tomato Committee. 

Guenther will serve as the executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Exchange and Florida Tomato Growers Exchange, in addition to being the manager of the Florida Tomato Committee.  He has already begun onboarding work for the industry and will officially start in September.

Guenther, a Florida native, is well-known in the U.S

Honeybear Brands has hired Rebecca Meyers to fill a new role within the company as national sales director. In this new role, Meyers will be maintaining existing customer relationships as well as leading the business development team. 

Meyers joins Honeybear after working most recently for Auvill Fruit Co. She has more than 20 years of experience in the industry executing sales leadership roles throughout her career. Meyers has a wealth of experience utilizing marketing and category management tools to deliver meaningful solutions when she meets with customers. 

“Her experience as well as

Sun-Maid Growers of California has promoted Steve Loftus to president and CEO. Additionally, Harry Overly will focus on his role as president and CEO of Flagstone Foods as he steps down from his position as executive chairman of Sun-Maid’s board of directors on Sept. 1, having successfully overseen a smooth leadership transition.

"Harry's commitment and leadership have been instrumental in guiding Sun-Maid through a significant period of growth and transformation," said Paul Toste, chairman of the board. "We are appreciative of his services and optimistic about Sun-Maid's future under Steve's

Frank Gilardi, co-founder of fresh-cut processor Freshway Foods, died unexpectedly on July 8. He was 66.

Born and raised in Sidney, OH, Mr. Gilardi was a successful entrepreneur who, along with his brother Phil Gilardi, co-founded Freshway Foods in Sidney in 1988 after purchasing the assets of their father’s wholesale company. Both men had worked in the multi-generational business previously and wanted to refocus the strategy to provide pre-cut and shredded lettuce to the foodservice industry.

“One day an unannounced 30-year-old young man walked into the front door of my wholesale produce

Tom Nunes (T3), who began his farming career over 70 years ago in the Salinas Valley and was known for his leadership and innovation in the produce industry, died Aug. 5 at the age of 95 in Carmel Valley, CA. 

Born into a farming family of Portuguese immigrants in Chualar, CA, from a young age Mr. Nunes helped his father riding tractor and working with him in the field. From these humble beginnings, Mr. Nunes started two successful grower-shippers and garnered produce industry awards and honors. Despite these honors, he would have said his greatest achievement and pleasure came from his